Ribble Cycles - More Terrible Service...

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Ribble Cycles - More Terrible Service...

31 posts & 16 voices | Started 11 months ago by Shibboleth | Latest reply from Carpe diem

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Shibboleth - Member

Went onto their website this morning as I needed to buy some new bib shorts and a few other bits and bobs - probably a couple of hundred quids-worth.

The website was so slow, it took over an hour for one page to load! So I sacked it off. Anyway, I was just passing Walton Summit (where they're based) so I thought I'd call in and buy the goods there (they have a small shop/showroom).

In the shop, there was a typed A4 paper sign saying that they wouldn't sell goods through the shop any more, it was just for reserve-and-collect orders.

I told the lad in there that I'd called in as the website was useless, he just shrugged and said "yeah, it's really slow because of high traffic". But he wouldn't take an order from me even though I was standing in front of him with a pocket full of cash!

Absolutely ridiculous, fair enough if they want to go 100% online, but get your bloody website working!!!

What a bunch of amateurs, I'll be buying elsewhere... Any suggestions?

Posted 11 months ago #
PeterPoddy - Member

I'll be buying elsewhere... Any suggestions?

Well, that's what I'd do if I'd made 2 attempts to spend my money and failed. Their loss.

Posted 11 months ago #
5lab - Member

so a online only shop with no cash handling facilities is unable to cope with a cash order? shocker. Why not see if you can pop into wiggle?

Posted 11 months ago #
foxyrider - Member

Sometimes their website is slow - I presume that they are unable to process CC orders / cash in the shop if they are now 100% online - So.....

As said above if you can't wait then get it somewhere else?

How about emailing them and telling them you have ordered it elsewhere because their website was too slow instead of ranting?

Posted 11 months ago #
PeterPoddy - Member

so a online only shop with no cash handling facilities

Or online facilities it seems. So not even a shop then?

Posted 11 months ago #
foxyrider - Member

So not even a shop then?

Well I guess that is our interpretation - as its 100% online is by definition now not a shop just a physical presence for pickup?

Posted 11 months ago #
foxyrider - Member

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/publish.asp?what=reserve-and-collect&page=1

PLEASE NOTE: Our Warehouse Shop is only available for THE SALE AND COLLECTION OF RIBBLE BIKES and for RESERVE AND COLLECT ORDERS.

So you can buy bikes there?

Payment

Payment for Reserve and Collect can only be made on a credit card. We will require your card details when you order the item but your card will only be charged when you collect the goods.

Posted 11 months ago #
Shibboleth - Member

5lab - Member

so a online only shop with no cash handling facilities is unable to cope with a cash order? shocker. Why not see if you can pop into wiggle?

That was a metaphor. I had cards as well. And if they can take CC orders over the phone or online, they can take them off a man standing in front of them!!

foxyrider - Member
PLEASE NOTE: Our Warehouse Shop is only available for THE SALE AND COLLECTION OF RIBBLE BIKES and for RESERVE AND COLLECT ORDERS.

Had I been able to get on their website this morning, I might have been able to read that.

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what it says on the website, if a customer turns up at the door because they've been unable to use your website, surely you'd help them to buy your products???

Like I said, complete amateurs.

Posted 11 months ago #
wwaswas - Member

if they can take CC orders over the phone or online, they can take them off a man standing in front of them!

no, they can't because they need a chip and pin machine to do customer present transactions.

Posted 11 months ago #
Shibboleth - Member

wwaswas - Member

no, they can't because they need a chip and pin machine to do customer present transactions.

They have one. I've used it dozens of times over the past couple of years.

Posted 11 months ago #
foxyrider - Member

But you have stated:

In the shop, there was a typed A4 paper sign saying that they wouldn't sell goods through the shop any more, it was just for reserve-and-collect orders.

So they won't - period?

Posted 11 months ago #
wwaswas - Member

I've used it dozens of times over the past couple of years.

In the shop, there was a typed A4 paper sign saying that they wouldn't sell goods through the shop any more

maybe it's gone now they don't do customer present transactions?

Posted 11 months ago #
Mister P - Member

We don't have a chip and pin machine but my workplace takes payment from my card very easily. If they can take payment over the phone then they should be able to use the same system to take payment face to face.

Posted 11 months ago #
foxyrider - Member

Basically your peed off coz you couldn't order the item via their slow website so without being able to look at their T&C's you went via the shop only to find that they will not sell via the shop - OK I'd be miffed but there you go? If you don't like them just don't use them?

If that's their new policy then the guy behind the counter can't do anything or help you further?

Posted 11 months ago #
TooTall - Member

They seem to be making a living despite their amateur status then.

Posted 11 months ago #
chakaping - Member

To be fair to them, they've probably taken that step so that they can improve their mail order service after taking a load of stick about that on here.

Posted 11 months ago #
Shibboleth - Member

To be fair to them, they've probably taken that step so that they can improve their mail order service after taking a load of stick about that on here.

As I said, fair play to them. But what sort of online mail order company has a website that becomes unusable due to traffic??

Posted 11 months ago #
andyl - Member

The Walton Summit is just a warehouse isnt it? There shop is actually in Preston.

You wouldn't pop to a sainsburys distribution centre and expect to be able to grab a trolley and do your shopping would you?

The Walton summit place is only just up the road from my Dads and it is much easier to park round there and get there off the motorway (perfect if you are heading up/down the M6 somewhere and need to pick up your parts as they won't get delivered in time).

I had some faulty parts off them recently and I was pleased they arranged to collect the large bulky items. Unlike some stores which make you send and then claim it back.

Posted 11 months ago #
andyl - Member

Just looked - do they still have the in town store or has it gone?

Posted 11 months ago #
Shibboleth - Member

andyl - Member

The Walton Summit is just a warehouse isnt it? There shop is actually in Preston.

You wouldn't pop to a sainsburys distribution centre and expect to be able to grab a trolley and do your shopping would you?

You make a very good point... Apart from a complete lack of informed knowledge on the subject. The Preston (Water Lane) shop closed about 4 or 5 years ago. The showroom/shop at Walton Summit has been selling goods over the counter ever since.

Their decision to stop selling over the counter is a recent one.

Posted 11 months ago #
montylikesbeer - Member

The shop in Preston has been closed for a while and directs you to the warehouse !

Posted 11 months ago #
andyl - Member

Shibboleth Apart from a complete lack of informed knowledge on the subject

Well I'm terribly sorry, It's been 6 years since I lived up there. Did you go in with this rude attitude too?

Maybe someone should suggest they get a purchasing kiosk and a coffee machine and couch for people to call in and order and wait for the staff to pick it?

Having staff there to take and process orders on the spot for customers probably costs a lot more per order than the online postage/pick up service. If you want cheap parts then you have to work with their system. If you want to go in somewhere and buy things over the counter then go somewhere that charges more to cover those costs.

Maybe they had the choice of hiking up prices or going purely online. They chose the option that suits 99% of their customers and keeps them in business.

Posted 11 months ago #
Shibboleth - Member

andyl - Member
Did you go in with this rude attitude too?

No, but when some smart arse that doesn't know his arse from his elbow starts telling me that I wouldn't turn up at Sainsbury's distribution depot with a shopping trolley, I reserve the right to reply in a similar tone.

Posted 11 months ago #
sas - Member

As I said, fair play to them. But what sort of online mail order company has a website that becomes unusable due to traffic??

Name one online ~~mail order~~ company that hasn't had an issue with their website going down at some point. Unless it's a regular occurrence... then again if their website can't cope with that many orders then their warehouse staff probably couldn't either so maybe it's a self limiting thing

Posted 11 months ago #
andyl - Member

Shibboleth - Member

No, but when some smart arse that doesn't know his arse from his elbow starts telling me that I wouldn't turn up at Sainsbury's distribution depot with a shopping trolley, I reserve the right to reply in a similar tone

It was intended in the same way was as your "turned up with a wallet full of cash" comment. It is a bit shit yes, especially for people who happen to live around there or be passing by and call in but if the guy on the front desk can't take an order then there is nothing he can do about it.

Stop throwing your toys out of your pram and grow up

PS Well at least this 'smart arse' didn't go somewhere that doesnt sell over the counter and expect to buy something over the counter

(awaits the "well if I could get on their website...." reply, yawn)

Posted 11 months ago #
Shibboleth - Member

andyl - Member
PS Well at least this 'smart arse' didn't go somewhere that doesnt sell over the counter and expect to buy something over the counter

I went into a shop that I'd been buying goods from over-the-counter for several years you pillock!

Posted 11 months ago #
grim168 - Member

I think its something to do with being on an industrial estate and not allowed to have a shop as such.

Posted 11 months ago #
large418 - Member

why didn't you phone them from the shop?

Posted 11 months ago #
Margin Walker - Member

shame as old shop in Preston had extensive clothing all out on hangers.

Originally closed it to refurb but it never opened again.

Maybe they got fed up with people turning up at Walton Summit and asking to look at stock (memebr of staff would then disappear into warehouse for 10 mins)- to be fair , they only ever had bikes and helmets in the Walton Summit shop but I have purchased loads of stuff there. Then tended to buy and collect for better prices (staff didnt give web discounts unless you asked).

May be an issue with it being on ind est as I know Merlin (5 mins away) and Winstanleys have the same issue.

Posted 11 months ago #
Bez - Member

Maybe if you went in gobbing off like you seem to on here they just didn't want to deal with you.

Posted 11 months ago #
Carpe diem - Member

I have one of their bikes.

I like them.

Peace dudes!

Posted 11 months ago #

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